Manila (Fides Service) - The government of national unity envisaged in the Philippines, should aim to promote the common good and not only to unite temporarily the different political factions, This is the opinion of Bishop Anthony Ledesma of Ipil in the southern Philippines. The Bishop stresses that "unity must be based on the principles of common vision rather than on personalities of the various political parties, Bishop Ledesma, who is also head of the Bishops' Conference Commission for Inter-religious Dialogue, said that the key to unity is promotion of the peace process, particularly on Mindanao where separatist Muslims groups are fighting for a Muslim state,
The interim national unity government proposed by Jose De Venecia National Assembly Chairman, which should govern the country for at least 45 days, should in fact include representatives of the Muslim independence movement so as to involve them in the decision making process. According to Oblate Missionary Fr Eliseo Mercado, appointed by President Arroyo to lead the National Council of Peace for Mindanao, the President should use the final year of her mandate to improve social services, reform the army and the police, improve the justice system, re-launch talks with rebels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Communist minded New People's Army. (Fides Service 16/1/2003)